10 Great Restaurants in Sarasota

Selva Grill offers a fine-dining experience with an upscale Latin flair in every bite, along with picturesque ambience and a thriving reputation. The restaurant has a smart-casual vibe, and executive chef Ysacc Sanchez offers culinary delights that ensure an upscale experience you'll never forget.

The menu is mouthwatering, with each dish being described by professional critics as a work of art. You'll find traditional Argentinian empanadas along with seared skirt steak and delectable New Zealand lamb chops. You'll find it conveniently located right city centre.

Dry Dock Waterfront Grill is a casual eatery off the mainland of Sarasota where you can enjoy comfort food made from fresh seafood and other fresh ingredients. Both indoor and patio dining are available, so you can always enjoy views of the bay whether it's directly or through a window.

The food here is some of the best seafood you'll find in the area and is offered without any atmosphere of pretentiousness. Simple steaks, shrimp, lobster rolls, and chowders are available among plenty of other options. You'll find it all on the southern end of Longboat Key west of city centre across the bay.

Café L'Europe is your best source for quality European cuisine in Sarasota, offering extensive wines and top-tier service as well. The ambience of this restaurant was inspired by a hotel with a similar name in Amsterdam, so you can expect refinement and sophistication when you visit.

On the menu, you'll find delectable items, including a lot of seafood options, all made fresh. You'll find lobster bisque, French onion soup, potato-crusted grouper, and much more. The wines are award-winning from throughout Europe, and you can enjoy cocktails as well. It's all located across the bay on Lido Key.

Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar is a popular seafood restaurant with the locals and offers fresh seafood accompanied by delicious cocktails and specials. You can enjoy their seafood options with both indoor and outdoor dining and stunning views of the beach.

While their menu boasts a variety of seafood options, the oysters tend to be the popular favourite at this restaurant and are often considered to be the best oysters in town. The creative cocktails solidify the experience, and it's all available to enjoy a few miles south of city centre by the namesake creek.

Dolce Italia is an authentic Italian restaurant that's been family-owned for generations and offers a welcoming and soothing environment. You'll find a comprehensive menu of dishes with seafood, pasta dishes, and their famous aubergine dishes you won't want to miss out on.

Both meat and vegan options are available here, so you can dine even with dietary restrictions in place. The desserts are particularly appealing, with options like lemon cake, tiramisu, and even a gelato that features Nutella flavouring. You'll find it all in South Sarasota a few miles out from city centre.

Der Dutchman specialises in Amish-style meals, offering traditional cuisine and family-oriented, buffet-style dinners as well as plenty of pastries and a gift shop, too. Many patrons here visit with their whole family, so everyone can take advantage of what they have on offer.

In addition to the regular menu items, you'll find freshly baked pastries every day, with more than 20 different types of pie. Plus, there's a gift shop on the second floor. You'll find it all east of city centre in Pinecraft.

Michael’s on East is a fine-dining restaurant where you can enjoy refined cuisine and specialised service in a 1940s supper club atmosphere. You'll need to make a reservation to get a table here, so make sure you book your visit well in advance.

The menu offers award-winning dishes that mainly focus on seafood like fresh lobster and ahi tuna, but you'll also find a delicious filet mignon tartare and escargot. You can get to this restaurant by heading a short distance south from City centre.

The Capital Grille is a stunning steakhouse where you can enjoy fresh meat as well as seafood and some creative sides followed by delectable desserts. The steaks here are dry-aged and hand-cut directly on the premises by in-house butchers who are employed by the restaurant.

In addition to the steaks, you'll find a wide variety of seafood available, all prepared and designed to offer a refined and exquisite taste. You can try it all for yourself a few miles northeast of city centre near University Park.

Libby’s Area Brasserie is a unique restaurant where you can enjoy large- or small- plate classic American cuisine complemented by seasonal ingredients and sophisticated drinks. The sheer variety of options here makes it a premier place to try no matter what size meal you're hungry for.

Despite the sophisticated decor of the restaurant, you'll find the atmosphere here to be largely relaxed and casual, so you can take it easy while enjoying your meal. Be sure to check out their happy hours as well. You can try it all for yourself right city centre just northeast of McClellan Park.

Columbia Restaurant is a local staple that's been around for more than a century offering Spanish and Cuban cuisine with time-tested recipes and always-fresh ingredients. You'll find classic dishes on the menu, but they've all been modernised enough to appeal to contemporary tastes.

When you visit this restaurant, you'll find a welcoming atmosphere full of old-world charm as you immerse yourself in the culinary delights. You'll find it and all its family recipes in the St. Armands circles to the west of city centre across the bay.